Muslim leaders reject Tony Abbott's proposed new terrorism laws

Saffron Howden, Rachel Olding

Muslim leaders across Australia have denounced as unjust, unjustified and hypocritical proposed new counter-terrorism laws and they have refused to "rubber-stamp" them for the government.

In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, more than 60 individuals and organisations, including 10 sheikhs, said that the threat from the ostensible target of the laws - about 150 "radicalised" Muslims returning from Iraq or Syria - had been "trumped up".

There was no agenda for the one-hour meeting and those invited were not given access to any draft legislation, she said.

"We don't even know what we're speaking about," she said. "A productive consultation has an agenda. There was no agenda."

Ms Ihram is a signatory to the statement from Muslim leaders, which vows not to rubber-stamp the laws.

"The Muslim community is being asked to sign off on laws and policies that have already been decided," it reads.

"Prime Minister Tony Abbott is merely seeking approval under the cover of consultation."

The government's plans reportedly include softening the definition of terrorism, retaining internet and phone data, making it easier to detain and question suspects returning from overseas and reversing the onus of proof for people coming home from terrorism hot-spots.